Falcons are clicking at the exact right time

Falcons are clicking at the exact right time

After losing in Week 9 to the division-rival Carolina Panthers, 20-17, the Atlanta Falcons were officially in panic mode. The team was 4-4, and the offense was sputtering under Steve Sarkisian. The defense was undisciplined and not consistently playing up to their talent level.

Then, an unexpected win over the Dallas Cowboys sparked something in this team. Yes, the Falcons were lucky to have played the Cowboys during Ezekiel Elliott’s suspension and Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith’s absence, but it didn’t matter.

Adrian Clayborn’s violent harassment of Dak Prescott in what would be a team-record six-sack performance got things rolling for this sleeping giant. They would keep it rolling the following Monday night in Seattle, as Dan Quinn would get the best of former mentor Pete Carroll.

After a great team win in Seattle, the Falcons took out the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with help from Julio Jones’ 253-yard performance through the air. Sarkisian is back in fans’ good graces after the impressive offensive showcase in Week 12.

The Falcons came into the year with high expectations and the pressure of a Super Bowl hangover. Everyone knew they would still have offensive firepower, but the reason a lot of people liked Atlanta to get back to the big game was their young core of defensive talent.

Adding someone like Takkarist McKinley, who got his fourth sack of the season last week, was supposed to be the difference that separated Atlanta and the many other good teams in the NFC playoff picture.

Until last week, it looked like the Falcons were on course for a mediocre, 9-7 type of season. They certainly aren’t out of the woods yet, as Minnesota will be coming to town with a 9-2 record.

At 7-4, though, the Falcons are on a three-game winning streak and getting hot just in time for the final playoff push.